Teacher of Refugee, Immigrant Students Named 2018 National Teacher of the Year

The 2018 National Teacher of the Year was announced today on CBS This Morning: Mandy Manning, a National Board Certified Teacher of high school English and math in Spokane, Washington, has been named to the honor, following the announcement of four finalists earlier this year.

Manning began her teaching career almost two decades ago working with the Peace Corps in Armenia. Since then, she has taught in Japan and in classrooms throughout the United States. Manning’s global perspective has been instrumental in her current classroom in the Newcomer Center at Ferris High School in Spokane, a place where immigrant and refugee students are provided the opportunity to study English, foundational reading skills, mathematics, and computers.

Manning works tirelessly to ensure her students feel welcomed, cared for, and empowered to reach their greatest potential. Acclimating her students is not without its challenges, as many of them have experienced some degree of trauma before ever arriving in the United States. By recognizing the varied cultures and communities from which her students come, Manning incorporates lessons that empower them to take pride in their diverse backgrounds.

AACTE is a proud participant in the selection committee (hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers) in reviewing applications from across the country. This year’s selection committee released the following statement regarding Manning’s selection as 2018 National Teacher of the Year:

Mandy is a strong educator who believes in a great public education for every student and has a unique perspective on meeting the needs of some of our nation’s most vulnerable children. She is dedicated to empowering teacher leaders and putting people first. Her fierce belief in her students, unwavering commitment to their learning, and demonstrated efforts to ensure that they can be successful both in school and in life make her an exceptional educator and why we selected her to be the 2018 National Teacher of the Year.

For more information on the National Teacher of the Year program, please visit CCSSO’s website; and be sure to follow Manning’s journey on her blog, Teaching Fearless.